Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machinery Systems, Ltd. (MHI-MS), a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has completed delivery of a new type of aseptic filling system that sterilizes PET bottle packaging containers (bottles and caps) in advance, and fills and caps the beverage products in an aseptic environment. The advanced system, provided for a manufacturing plant of a domestic beverage producer, has been in operation since March this year.
The new aseptic filling system utilizes a two-step sterilization method in which the PET preform is sterilized before bottle molding, with the bottle sterilized again after molding. Compared to a hot filling system, in which the beverage product is heated to sterilize the inner surface of the container when the bottle is filled, without sterilization in advance, with aseptic filling the reduced heat history of the beverage helps to preserve the flavor, while filling at room temperature allows for thinner and more lightweight containers. In addition, compared to conventional filling system models, the new system requires 30% less floor space for installation, and uses 25% less hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a sterilizing agent, while also employing a rinsing process using sterile air that eliminates the need for sterile water. This significant reduction in the use of chemicals and water in the manufacturing process is expected to drive widespread adoption as a next-generation aseptic filling system.
